NSW/ACT to contest KickStart Camp

Indigenous boys from NSW/ACT will have every opportunity to reach their dream of playing in the AFL following their selection in the state team for the AFL KickStart Under-15 Championships.

The AFL KickStart Under-15 Championships will be played on the Gold Coast from Wednesday, August 31 to Sunday, September 4.

The Championships will engage 150 Indigenous boys from all states and territories in Australia. There will be six teams of 25 boys each from NSW/ACT, Victoria/Tasmania, Northern Territory, Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.

Participants have been selected based on the following criteria: leadership qualities, school attendance, community involvement and football ability. State KickStart camps have been conducted to select teams.

AFL National Community Engagement Manager Jason Mifsud said the KickStart program will continue to use Australian football as a vehicle for education, employment, health and participation outcomes for Indigenous people.

“KickStart’s re-structure will not only grow the pool of talented Indigenous footballers, it will further expand the engagement with Indigenous communities,” Mifsud said.

“The Championships will provide development opportunities for other parts of the football industry such as umpires, coaches and administrators.”

During the Championships participants will meet Indigenous AFL players and engage in leadership seminars.

The best performing teams will play in the curtain-raiser to the Gold Coast v Hawthorn match at Metricon Stadium on Saturday, September 3.

At the conclusion of the Championships, 25 players will be selected for the 2011 Flying Boomerangs squad. The squad will tour Fiji in December this year.

Click here to view the team.